Theme: Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.

World Hypertension Day is observed every May 17th. It ^.is a global healthcare event celebrated in order to raise awareness and promote hypertension prevention, detection and control. This year theme focuses on the efforts to combat the low awareness rates of hypertension, especially in low to middle-income areas and to promote accurate blood pressure measurement methods.

High blood pressure is the main risk factor to develop cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and dementia. More than one billion people around the world live with hypertension (high blood pressure). Around half of people living with hypertension are unaware of their condition, putting them at risk of avoidable medical complications and death.

 To achieve the global target to reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 25% by 2025, WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Global Hearts Initiative in 2016 with its five technical packages:

HEART TECHNICAL PACKAGES

• HEARTS (manage cardiovascular disease)
• MPOWER (control tobacco)
• Active (increase physical activity),
• SHAKE (reduce salt consumption)
• REPLACE (eliminate trans fat)

The package gives guidance towards effectively detecting and treating people with hypertension in primary health care. 

HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY

• Spread the word about hypertension so that people will have their blood pressure checked regularly because, some people living with hypertension are unaware of their condition. This can be done through social media platforms.
• if you are one of those who are unaware of their blood pressure condition, this is the right time to have yours checked, and hopefully, your blood pressure is normal.
• Prevent it from happening by following the primary prevention of hypertension, such as maintaining your body weight, engaging in regular aerobic physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption.

TIPS TO REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE

• Increased activity and exercise.
• Losing any weight in case of overweight.
• Cutting back on refined carbohydrates and sugar.
• Taking more potassium and less sodium in the diet.
• Avoiding processed food.
• Abstaining smoking and alcoholism.
• Reducing excessive stress.
• Maintenance of a good and restful sleep.
• Taking more garlic or garlic extract supplements.
• Taking enough healthy high protein foods.
• Cutting back on caffeine.

It is better to cut the problem even before it starts, just as it is better to reduce hypertension rather than to deal with the complications it tends to bring

YOUR HEALTH PHARMACY

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